Spring group



Jan. 2, 1945.

R. B. COTTRELL SPRING GROUP Filed Nov. 21, 1941" 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Jan. 2, l1945.

R. B.r co'r'rRELl.

SPRING GROUP Filed Nov. 21, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 2, 1945. R..B CQTTRELL 2,366,181

SPRING GROUP Filed NOV. 21. 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENT OR.

ing" relatively` few parts and a rubber springY or pad. u t i i Patented Jan. 2, 1945 SPRING GROUPJ1 Robert B. i Cottrell, Chicago, Ill., `assignor to i American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corp p poration of New Jersey i i t i Application November 21, 1941, Serial No. 419,881 t zo claims.`

My invention relates toI a spring group com- `'prising a `control unit and particularly adapted.` for `use on railway equipment but suitable for any application where itis desired to restrain j normal oscillatory action of coil springs or `similardevices. `In recent `years considerable effort and study has been directed to the solution of` problems arising from the uncontrolled actions of coil springs when used on vehicles,`-V particularly railway ei'iuipmentl` 'At the present time, it is well recchgnized that some sort of ``snubbing means is desirablyused-V in associationwith coil springs andi sometimes elliptic springs as well, although when properly designed, an elliptic spring has qualities of friction absorption which may pre- T those Skilled in the art, it Will `be apparent i vent 'the development ofsynchronous vibrations.

that( in the modification shown herein,` by means of parallel friction surfaces, uniform pressure and .friction is obtained throughout 4the strokeor spring travel; i

` "A more` specificobject of my `invention `is to i i design a `snubbirig arrangement comprising atop follower or housing having: iiat vertical friction wa1l`s, said arrangement falso comprising shoe carriers or support means upon` whichl frictionl shoes may be mounted for frictional engagep i ment with the inner surfaces of said walls.

Another object of my invention 'is to provide a friction control unit comprising, in one modiflcation,fadjustab1y mounted friction `shoes and i ini other'modications adjustably and removably mounted friction shoes.

My invention comprehends` a novel form of `bottom follower or frictionxshoe supportcomprising in` certain modications horizontal iianges extended through. aligned slots in the associated shoes and in another modification comprising slots formed for the reception of securing lugson the associated shoes.

i My invention also contemplates such an arrangement as thatdescribed whereinadequate friction "may be developed by a device comprisrelatively `thick'.

Figur-e1*` 1'. is a top plan View of `onem0dification of my novelcontrol unit with the top `spring plate shown in` phantom linesV in order toshow more clearly `the structure therebeneath.

`Figure2`is an endviewof the structure shown Figure 1` partly in section,` the section `being taken in-w the vertical transverse planeindicated "by line'"2"--2 of' Figure 1; i

Figures 3 and `4 show my novel formoflock'- link -l'I-gvagedwith "the associated i top fol- The; endwallss of the topwfollower may `be prolower, Figure 3 being aplan view thereof and Figurelfan end view;

' "Figures 5 and.6 showmy novel friction device inxconjunction with a coil spring group, Figure 5 being a, top plan viewwiththetopspring plate *partly `broken away to show ther friction device `ltherebeneath, and Figure Gbeing an end View t thereof corresponding to the viewshown in Figi ure "2. t v t Figures 'l and 8 show another modification of my novel unit, Figure '7 being a top plan view thereon and Figure` an end view. t p t Figures 9,10,;and `11 showthe modified fric- `"tion shoe retainer used `in the arrangement shown in Figures 7 and ,8; Figure 9 being a `plan View thereof; Figure 10 a side elevation', and Figure 11 an end view.

. Figure `172` shows still another modification of my novel ride control unit and is-a sectional View taken ina vertical transverse plane bisecting one pair of" the` friction shoesl employed `in my unit,

said view being comparable toythat shown in Figure v2 but showing both sides of the unit `in section; i

Describing `my novel control unit in detail and `referring particularly to the assembly View shown in Figures 1f"and` 2, the control unit comprises a housing or top follower! ofgenerally rectangular box-likeform having side walls `4, 4, end walls (i,` 6, a top wall 8 integrally formed there-` with; and slotted as at 9, 9, and an intermediate transverse verticalA web |'4 relieved las at l5 (Figure 2) for the' purpose of lightening the device. The top wall 8may be projected centrallyofthe device to form the lateral retaining lugs,` l0, Il)V and said" lugs "on said top wall may be perforated as at l2, I2 for reception of rivets or similar securing `means` by which. the top follower or housing may be flxedto a top spring plate or other spring Vabutting means.` Each side wall 4 is formedvth spaced slotsI I6, I6 at the bottomthereof and intermediate its junction with thetransverse web I4 and theend walls 6*," 6,'"thus' affording `v clearance on the `closure stroke fortl'ieI top follower-from the shoe; retainers l"l,` HandthemembersN, 24 securing said 'retainers' to the bottom spring plate. On the inside'` of the `side walls 4, 4 are formed friction t surfaces 26, 26 ('FigurewZl for engagement with t "abutting'wsurfaces `28, 2ten` the friction shoes 2T', ZThereinafter described "in greater detail.

jected adjacent the bottomsY thereof lto form the hook-like lugs YI3,` i3` :serving al purpose hereinafter described; l

. vertically aligned; withtthesmts 16,@ us` at each end of the device is a shoe retainer I1 of strap-like form and comprising a base portion I8 perforated as at I9 for reception of securing means by which it may be xed to a bottom spring plate 4I. At the sides of the base portion I8 are formed upwardly Curved vertical portions 2 I, 2| which are extended into horizontal anges 22, 22 serving as friction shoe supporting means in the manner hereinafter described.

Secured to the ends of said horizontal flanges as at 23, 23 by welding or other convenient means are vertical lugs 24, 24 of rectangular form which are in turn fixed to the bottom spring plateas at 25, 25 and thus furnishsupportl for said shoeretainers I1, I1.

Each shoe 21 is of generally rectangular form comprising an upper relatively l.thick portionv -2'9 on one side of which is formed a friction surface sociated 'with the shoe retainers I1, I1 may be positioned and Welded as before described. As the clamp is released from the shoes they will be forced against the opposite friction surfaces of the housing thus developing the desired friction. It will be apparent that the character of 28 for engagement with the adjacent'friction surface 26 on the top follower 2as heretofore described, and on the other sideof said thick portion is formed Ya centrallyfdisposed annular lug 30 which affords positioning means lfor arubber padV or spring 39 normally under compression between said shoes 21, 21 at each endV of -the device. The lower relatively `thin portionv 33 of each shoe is Vformed with `a rectangular .slot 34 adjacent the bottom thereof for reception of a horizontal flange 22 on `the `associated shoe retainer I1,- thereby positioningsaid shoe 21 and limiting movement -thereof with respect Yto .said bottom spring plate.` IIt may be -noted that the flanges 22, 22 are affordedslight play vwithin the slots 34, 34 in -the vassociated shoesso that said shoes may automatically ladjust themselvesl `in lthe event of wearing of the surfaces 26, -26 and 28,28. At eachy end of thek devicea retaining link 35 may be fixed to the bottom spring plate as by weldingat'36, 36. Said linkis shown in detail in Figures 3 and 4v and comprises a base portion 31 welded tothe bottom spring plate as above described and an arcuate upper portion 38 engaged with the hook-like lug I3 on the adjacent l end wall 6 of the top follower 2. Said link may be used in assembly of my novelunit, and after the device has been placed under load the link lmay be removed if desired.

Figures 5 and 6 show in reduced size the application of my novel control unit to` a spring 42'to serve as positioning means for `spaced i" coil springs 43,'43 (diagrammatically indicated),

and said bottom plate comprising spaced openings 5I, 5I forassociation with positioning lugs on a bottom frame member (not shown). yThe inboard edge 44 o'f the plate 40 is plain and unanged and by this means interference is avoided with a, commonly used formV of load carrying member or bolster (notshown) normally supported thereon. vThe bottom plate 4I is upwardly flangedlat its outboard "end as at 45 and atits inboard end asat 46, thus affording positioning means for the coil springs at each end of the group. VSecured to the top and bottom spring plates as at 41,- 41 may be ymy novel control unit generally designated' 48 of a form heretofore describedY in detail, including. the' top ffollower`f2 and the shoe retainer I1, secured respectively to the top and bottom spring plates.` .lTheLspring plates may be formed with centr-al lugs49, 49 serving as positioning means `for saidplates with kformed spaced slots 13, 13 for reception of hori the rubber pads or springs may be varied to meet different 4operating conditions. n

, IIn Figures v1 to l1 another modification ofmy device -is\shown, and in this modification the top follower or housing 52 comprises sidewalls 54, 54, end walls Y56, 56,.a topwall58 integrally formed therewith and slotted as at 55,155, and-an intermediate vertical transverse web 59 cored away as at 69 (Figure 8) at the bottomthereof and thus affording clearance f orthe shoe re- `tainer 69 on the closure stroke. The top wall-58 may beprojected to form lateral retaining-,lugs 8|, 6I with perforations 62, 62 -and1servinga purpose similarto that of the correspondinglugs in the previous modication. yThe side walls-.54, 54 lare kformed with frictionfsurfaces-BS, 6310.1 engagement with abutting surfaces 64,64 -onthe friction shoes 65, as at, 66, 66, and the '-end walls of the housing may be projected toforrn hook-like lugs 61, l61 engaging the assembling links 68, 68 as in theprevious modification.

. The shoe retainer 69 shown in detail in Figures 9 to ll is an E-shaped member comprising rela-y tively narrow end legs 10, 10, a relatively wide intermediate leg 1I, and a rectangular top-wall 12. Between the legs 18, 18 and thel leg-Haare .zontal lugs 88,v 88 on the bottom of the associated friction shoes 65, 65. The bottom follower may be secured to the bottom spring plate by welding orother convenient means as at 15, 15.

The friction shoes 65, 65 are simliar tothose described in the previous modification andcom- `prise upper relatively thick rectangularf pori'- tions 18, 18, having on one side thereof friction surfaces 64, 64 engaging complementary surfaces on the side walls of the housing aspreviously described and on the other side thereof centrally positioned annular lugs 8U, 88 forming position- Iing means for rubber pads or springs 84.` 84 normally under compressionbetvveen the shoes at respective ends of the housing 52. `The lower'relatively thin portions 86, 86 of theshoes comprise horizontal lugs 88, 88 at the bottom thereof ex.- -t'endinginto the' slots `l'3,` 13 in the bottom'follower 69 thus limiting relative vertical movement between the Shoes and the botto-m spring plate while` permitting lateral movement of Vsaid'sh'oes Ain order that they may adjust themselves 'to vwearing of the surfaces 63, 63 and 64, 64 on the top follower and shoes respectively. At each end of the device, `a retaininglink 68 may be-secured to the'bottom-plateand may engagejal-ug 6-1 Qn `the-'top follower 52 as previously-describedand for assembly purposes as described inthe .previous rnodication.l f

control 4unit is similar to thoseA modifications heretofore describedfandcomprisestop and bottom* spring plates |02 and |04 of similar' form aseo, 1er.

to" those employed in thepreviousfmodications and comprising lugs( |06, |06 affording meanspositioning said plates with respectlto the supported and `supporting frame members (not shown). The unitalso comprises atop follower generally designated |08 secured as at ||0, ||0`to saidtop springplate and comprising side walls ||2\,` H12 presenting-` `oppositely spaced friction surfaces ||4, ||4 relieved as at H6,` H6. At each end of the d evice is positioned a" pair of friction `shoes |13; la` `witnweer pads |20, |20 secured thereto in any convenient` manner andgin frictional engagement as at |22, |22 with the friction sur-` faces `||4,` ||`4 on the top follower. r- `Each shoe t f||8| comprises a pair of vertically aligned lugs |24, |24 serving a purpose; hereinafterdescribed,

and each shoe also comprises an offset baseporticn |26 with an opening |28- therethrough for thel reception of positioning means formed on housing secured tosaidtopoplate and having" oppositely spaced friction surfaces; friction shoes thereinyin engagement with, respective surfaces and` comprising slots ittherethiough,l anda plue rality of shoe retainers secured to `said `bottom plate andtcomprising horizontal nanges extending throughrespective slots, resilient means un-` der compression.betweenrespective shoes,` and `means securing said horizontal flanges to said bottom plate.

i 3. Inl a spring groupior `a railway car truck,

, top and bottom spring plates,`a plurality of coil springs confined therebetween, and a friction de'- i vice, said device comprising a housing secured to said top plate and having oppositely spaced friction surfaces at each end thereof, aifriction shoe in `engagementfwith each surface and com- 1 `prising `arectangular slot, a shoe retainer sethe bottom` spring plate |04; :Said positioning means comprises a shoe `retainer of Tesection comprising a vertical web |30 integrally `formed e with the bottom plete and o horizontal web |32,

each side ofwhich projects through theopening |28'in the associated friction shoe;` Under compression between each pair of friction shoes H8, ||8l is a pair of vertically aligned coil springs |34, |34, saidsprings being" positioned witherespect tosaidshoes byl the lugs |24, |24 formed i thereon as previously described. It will be noted that in the modification shown in Figure 121, the

shoesare oisetV at the lower extremitiesithereof in order that they andtheshoe retainer asso;

e ciated therewith may be `afforded `clearanceifron'i thetop followeron the closure stroke. Itmay alsofbe noted thatin` this modification as well asin the modification shownin Figures"7 tolll inclusive,` the friction` shoes. are removably securedwith respect to the bottom spring `plate 'and are permitted lateral movement with respect to the associated shoe retainer in order that they c may adjust themselves to wearing of the friction i cured to said bottomffplate at each "end of said device and comprising `horizontal iianges extends ling through respective `slotsin saidshoes, and resilientl means under compression between said shoes at each end oi' saiddeviice. e

4. In a composite spring group for a` railway `car truck, top `and bottom springl plates, a plurality of coil springs"conned` therebetween, fa

` rectangular housing xed` to said top plate and comprising oppositely spaced friction surfaces, va `pluralityof friction shoes therein engaging `xet spective surfaces and comprising slots there" through, a plurality of shoe retainers, each comprising a horizontal baseportionsecured to said 1 bottom plate, `and spaced `horizontal flanges extending through respectiveslotsgandrubber pads f under `compression between respective shoes vurging said shoes into engagement With said surfaces.

5. In a composite spring groupfora :railway car` truck, top and bottom spring plates, a, plu-L `rality of coil springs coniinedtherebetween, and

a friction device, said device comprising a top i follower having sidewalls comprising internal 1` friction surfaces `and end walls each comprising surfaces on the tophousing and on said shoes. o

It is to be understood that'I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiments of the device shown which are merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other-forms of the device will, of course, be apparent `to those anoutwardly extending lug, friction shoes in engagement with said surfaces, shoe retaining 4means associated with said bottom plate and c engaged with saidshoes, resilient means urging c `said shoes into engagement with said surfaces,

g secured to said bottom plate and `having 'skilled in` the art without departing from `the spirit of the invention or the scope of the` claims. Iclaimr `1. In a composite springgroup for a lrailway car truck, `top and bottom spring plates, a p lu` rality ofcoil springs confined therebetween; `and 'a friction device, said devicercomprising atop "follower secured to saidtop plate and having spaced friction surfaces, friction `shoesin en-` :gagfementwith respective surfaces and comprisingr slots therethrough, AresilientA meansi under compression between respective shoes,A a pluralin engagement with respective surfaces and come Oprising horizontal lugs extending between `re- 6 Y,

e means under compression` `between respective ity of shoe .retainers fixed to said bottom plate l 4and comprising horizontal fianges inengagement with respective slots, an `outwardly extending' lug` at` each endof saldi top. follower, and anassemblylink at each endofsaid device compris-` ing a horizontal base portion fixed to said b0t tom plate, andan arcuate upper portion engaged with said lug. f

2. In a composite spring group for a railway car truck, top and bottom spring plates, a plurality of coil springs confined therebetweenfand a. yfriction device, said device comprising a topV and an assembly link at each end` of said device an upper portion engaged with `the adjacent lug. i i V6. `In a composite spring group, top and bottom spring plates, a plurality of coil springs confined therebetween, anda friction device, said` device comprising an El-shaped lshoe retainer having` spaced legs flxedto said bottomplate, a rectangu- .i larfhousing secured to said top plate and having oppositely spaced friction surfaces, friction shoes speotive legs on'said shoe retainer, and resilient shoes. i 1. `In a compositespring group for a railway car truck, top and'bottorn` springplates, a plus I ralityof coil springs conned` therebetween, and a friction device, saiddevice comprising a housingxsecured `to 'said topiplate `having side walls comprising internal friction surfaces and` end walls each comprising an outwardly extending c lug,l i friction shoes in engagement with" said surfaces, means adjustably securing said shoes to said `,botto-tn plate, resilient means urging `said shoes into` engagement `with `said surfaces,l and links xed tosaid bottom 4plate at the ends-.of ,said device and looped oversaid lugs to limit' expansion of the device.

- V8. In a-lcomposite spring group for a railway cari-truck, top and bottom spring plates, a plurality of coil springs confined therebetween, and a friction device, said device comprising a housing secured to said top plate and having oppositely` spaced friction surfaces therein and a verti'cal transverse web bisecting said surfaces, friction shoes in engagement with said surfaces, shoe retaining means secured to said bottom plate and removably engaged with said shoes, resilient means urging said shoes into engagement with said surfaces and a slotl in said web affording said top housing clearance from said'shoe retaining means.

. 9. In a friction absorbing device, a housing base thereof, a plurality of shoe retainers having securing portions extending through respective slots, and rubber pads under compression between respective shoes. 11. In a friction device, a top housing comprising a pair of oppositely spaced friction surfaces at. each e-nd thereof, sets of friction shoes in engagement with respective surfaces, shoe retaining means securing the friction shoes at each end ofthe device, land resilient means under compression lbetween the shoes at each end Aof the device, said friction surfaces having spaced slots affording clearance from said shoe retaining means. f

12. In a friction absorbing device, a housing having internal friction surfaces, a pair of opposed friction shoes at each end of said housing in frictional engagementI with the associated surfaces, resilient means urging said shoes into said engagement, follower means interlocked with said shoes, and resilient means reacting 'against abutment means fixed to said follower means and housing respectively.

13. In a composite spring group, top and bot- .tom spring plates, a coil spring confined therebetween, and a friction device, said device comprising a housing` secured to said top plateand having in engagementI with the associated surfaces, resilient means compressed between each pair of shoes for Vurging the same into engagement with said surfaces, followermeans interlocked with `said shoes, and resilient means reacting against abutsaid shoes, resilient means urging said shoes into` engagement with said surfaces, spaced spring abutment-l means xed to said housing and said follower means respectively, resilient means reacting against said spaced abutment means, and links fixed withrespect to said follower means and looped over respective lugs to limit expansion of the device. l

17. In a friction absorbing device, a housing follower having spaced side walls, a top wall, and

a transverse web integral with said top and side walls and substantially bisecting said side walls, friction shoes frictionally engaging the inner surfaces of said side walls at opposite sides of said web, resilient means urging said shoes into said engagement, a follower interlocked with said shoes, and a plurality of spaced slots extending through. said top wall, each of said slots being disposed substantially in vertical alignment with one of said shoes.` y g 18. In a friction device, a follower having spaced friction panels, an E-shaped shoe retainer comprising spaced legs, friction shoes having portions extending between respective legs, said shoes comprising friction surfaces in engagementl with respective panels, and resilient means for urging lsaid surfaces ,into said engagement.

19.111 a spring group,-` top and bottom spring plate members, a coil spring therebetween, a housing secured to one of said members and having a pair of oppositely spaced internal friction faces at each end thereof, pairs of shoes in frictional engagement with respective faces, resilient means urging said shoes into said engagement, and an E-shaped follower secured to the other member and having a plurality of substantially parallel legs defining slots therebetween for the reception of lugs on the adjacent ends of said shoes.

20. In a composite spring group, top and bottom spring plates, a spring extending therebetween, and a friction device comprisinga housing secured to one of said plates andhaving a pair of oppositely spaced internal friction surfaces at ach'end thereof, friction shoes in frictional shoes for urging the same into engagement with said surfaces. ROBERT B. COTTRELL. 

